Incoming deputy chief of USFK's 8th Army to take charge of base relocation

A new deputy commander of the Eighth Army of the United States Forces Korea took command Thursday to spearhead efforts to relocate the American troops stationed in the country.In a change of command ceremony held in the USFK headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul, Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith took over from Maj. Gen. David Puster as the Eighth Army's deputy commanding general for sustainment."Instead of assuming the normal duties of her predecessor in Seoul, Smith will immediately begin work at Camp H

July 7, 2016

Korea, France to discuss nuclear energy cooperation

Korea said Thursday it will hold working-level talks with France this week on promoting a partnership in the nuclear energy field.The two-day bilateral "joint coordinating committee" meeting is due to open in Seoul later in the day, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.It would mark the 22th biennial session since the two sides launched the committee on nuclear energy cooperation in 1982.The two sides will focus on three main fields: R&D, nuclear safety and industry, a m

July 7, 2016

No. 2 diplomats from U.S., S. Korea, Japan to hold talks next week

The No. 2 diplomats from the United States, South Korea and Japan will hold trilateral talks in Hawaii next week, the State Department announced Wednesday.The July 14 meeting will involve U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, the department said in a statement."The meeting will be the fourth round of deputy-level trilateral consultations and will continue our close coordination wi

July 7, 2016

New deputy USFK chief to take command this week

A new deputy chief of United States Forces Korea will take command in a change of command ceremony this week, the U.S. military said Wednesday. Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Bergeson will replace Lt. Gen.Terrence O'Shaughnessy as the deputy commander of the United Nations Command and the USFK in the ceremony to be held at a U.S. air base in Osan, south of Seoul, the USFK's Seventh Air Force said in a statement.With the new position, Bergeson will also serve as the chief commander of the Seventh Air

July 6, 2016

S. Korea, Russia to hold high-level talks on N. Korea, Far East

South Korea and Russia will hold a series of high-level talks this week to expand cooperation over North Korea's nuclear program and the development of Russia's Far East region, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.The meetings will take place in Moscow on Thursday and Friday, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hyoung-zhin representing the South Korean side. Russia will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov during the policy talks on Friday and by First Deputy Far East Develop

July 6, 2016

U.S. approves Korea's request to buy SM-2 Block IIIB missiles

The U.S. government has approved a proposed sale to Korea of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles, containers and support, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Tuesday.The agency said in a statement that the South asked for a possible sale of 17 SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles and 17 SM-2 missile containers, and that the State Department approved the proposed sale.The estimated cost is $65 million, the agency said, adding that it has notified Congress of the possible sale."The Republic of

July 6, 2016

Pentagon: No final decision on THAAD

No final decision has been made as to the potential deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, the Defense Department said Tuesday, amid growing speculation that a decision is imminent.Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook made the remark in response to a question about a newspaper report that the U.S. and the South have reached a decision to place a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in the South's southeastern town of Chilgok."I can't confirm any report of that

July 6, 2016

Korea sees no sign of Kim's China trip

Korea has not detected any signs North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is preparing a visit to China, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, commenting on what would be his first foreign trip since taking power.On Monday, the Korean newspaper AsiaToday reported that the Swiss-educated North Korean leader is expected to make a state visit to China as early as July 27 and no later than Oct. 1. July 27 marks the day the Armistice Agreement was signed to end the 1950-53 Korean War in which China fought alongs

July 5, 2016

S. Korea should be focused on sanctions on N. Korea: top diplomat

South Korea should keep pressing North Korea to make Pyongyang abandon its nuclear ambitions, the country's top diplomat said Tuesday, adding that the focus should be placed on enforcing tough sanctions on Pyongyang until it leads to results."Things have become graver than ever before since the (North's) fourth nuclear test," Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said during a parliamentary interpellation session. "We should be focused on sanctions in a way they can have more impact."North Korea conduct

July 5, 2016

USFK veterans to launch fraternity group this year

Former United States servicemen who served in Korea will launch a fraternity group this year with a membership hovering at some 3.5 million veterans, local defense officials said Tuesday.Efforts are underway to establish the Korea Defense Veterans Association  sometime within this year under the sponsorship of diplomatic and defense authorities of both the U.S. and South Korea, an official source said. The KDVA, if established as planned, will help bring together U.S. Forces Korea veterans who w

July 5, 2016

Congress can block future president from withdrawing troops from Korea: senator

Congress can block a future U.S. president from withdrawing troops from allies just as it did so when former President Jimmy Carter attempted to pull all U.S. forces out of Korea in the 1970s, a U.S. senator said.The remark by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) came as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has threatened to end U.S. troop presence in Korea and Japan unless the Asian allies agree to pay more for the upkeep of American forces stationed there."As a senator, I play an important role in

July 5, 2016

Swiss president to visit S. Korea next week

Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann will visit Korea next week for talks with President Park Geun-hye and other officials to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and other areas, the Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.Schneider-Ammann will arrive in Seoul on Wednesday next week for a two-day visit following his three-day visit to Singapore, the presidential office said. He will be the first Swiss president to visit the Asian country since the two countries opened diplomat

July 5, 2016

Senior foreign ministry official leaves for Britain to discuss Brexit

A senior South Korean foreign ministry official will leave for Britain to discuss its recent decision to leave the European Union with local officials and experts, a source here said Monday.Kim Hyoung-zhin, South Korea's deputy foreign minister, will hold talks with Hugo Swire, his British counterpart, on the Brexit decision in London on Monday (local time), according to the ministry. Last month, Britons held a referendum and voted to leave the EU. Following the so-called Brexit decision, global

July 4, 2016

U.S.-Korea military alliance upreared at reception

The Korea America Friendship Society hosted a reception Thursday to celebrate the “robust” and “comprehensive” military alliance between Korea and the U.S. and honor charitable activities by American service personnel.The annual event -- “Korea America Friendship Night” -- gathered high-ranking military officials, armed forces members, diplomats and businessmen from both sides, as some 700 guests convened at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. For their voluntary services in local communities, five

July 3, 2016